Preview on a TV

Phil B · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2006, 05:29 PM

Hi

To cut a long story short, I want to watch whatever i'm editing in Vegas back on a TV. Now, I know you could usually do this via PC >> Firewire >> Camera >> TV and i've got everything in place but I have a slight problem - my cam doesn't support firewire out.

So is there an alternative way?

Thanks,
Phil

grewell912 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2006, 05:38 PM

You mean firewire in. Are you sure about this because most cams will do whats called Dv-In .... and then broadcast what is showing straight to your tv.

Mihai · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2006, 05:45 PM

Well most camcorders sold in Europe (at least my part of Europe) have DV-In disabled, for some reason. Their NTSC counterparts are much more generous.

Phil B · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2006, 05:48 PM

Whoops, I mean firewire/dv IN. And yeah, i'm sure.

grewell912 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2006, 06:38 PM

Did not know that.... wonder why that feature is blocked, and im sure you could get a firmware update somewhere to unlock it!

Mark W · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2006, 01:50 PM

Yep, google 'dv in enable';

You will find this,

http://www.fcosinus.com/dvin/

and many other helpfull sites.

Ian in Northampton · #7 (**permalink**) 02-06-2006, 04:14 PM

DV-in is disabled on many European camcorders because the EU levies some ridiculous tax on anything imported that could be classified as a VCR. From memory, it's something to do with the French and one of many sordid moments in French history when they allocated one customs official in a small hut to physically check every imported VCR, in an attempt to slow the tide of Japanese imports, thus preserving the market for e.g. Thomson. So, to hit a better price point, imported camcorders have DV-in disabled, so as not to attract the tax. It used to be the case that you could easily upgrade your firmware - I did it with my entry level Panasonic for about £25 - but I think there was a good deal of clamping down on it, possibly by the manufacturers, and it's now much harder to find sites that are still active that offer the upgrade. Or it was, last time I looked.

Mark W · #8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2006, 04:21 PM

Yep it's bloody stupid. Both my vx9000e are in disabled and rather than fanny aobut getting them enabled (and not a lot of point as most places cant play 'proper' size dv tapes) I decided to buy an old el cheepo DV camera with in enalbed. I hardly ever use that camera for anything other than recording into, and soon it will provide f wire preview functionality when I can be botherd to set that up.

Ian in Northampton · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2006, 05:29 PM

I dfid some more research on this and, from what I can make out, today's camcorders can't be 'upgraded' - the manufacturers now use hardware rather than firmware (allegedly) to block DV-in. That said, if you've got an older camera (like mine) and you can find a source of PanaDVin (for the Panny) - from e.g. smartdv? - I can recommend it.

grewell912 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2006, 06:36 PM

I never knew that about the camera dv-in problem over there, thats why i always wondered why you all pressed for the canopus (even though we have them here at my school in editing class, final cut labs!) its crazy how much of a difference there is between these 2 countries!